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The walks are as follows:
Cres-Sveti-Blaz and return
6 hrs
and 12kms-circular route
A
stroll from the picturesque and historical harbour town of Cres, which meanders through
the centuries-old Olive groves, Fig trees and 'Gromaca'-Dry-stone-walls
along the coast to the church of Sveti Salvador. The walk
features ruins of churches, ancient settlement of Sveti Blaz,
a wonderful selection of Mediterranean plant species and air
laden with herbal aromas. There are also many excellent
panoramas as we look almost constantly over to the Istrian
Peninsular and the sparkling-blue adriatic in the foreground. At
the furthest point we reach
the pretty and unique beach at Sveti Blaz where you can pause to take a
swim and refreshments before returning to Cres via the
waterfront for your return
to Beli.
Lubenice-Vidovic-Grmov 4hrs and
8kms(views of Vransko Jezero)-linear route
The
stunning hamlet of Lubenice perched
380 metres atop a giant rock outcrop above the sparkling blue
Adriatic, provides the start point for this walk. Resist the
temptation to use all your camera film here as the rest of the
journey is equally remarkable, and includes a climb to the
wooded peak of 'Helm'-480m providing good views West to Istria
and to the South Losinj Island and surrounding islets.From here
we drop down to the pretty village of 'Vidovic', before once
again rising to a ridge which provides views of
the enormous Lake Vrana(the islands only source of fresh water)
before alighting at the old village of 'Grmov' where our minibus
awaits to return us to Beli.
Nerezine-Osor via Osorscica 6hrs
and 12km-linear route
A
walk from sea level in the boat-building village of 'Nerezine' to the mountainous ridge of
'Osorcica' and its twin peaks of Sveti Nikola-558m and the
chapel of Sveti Mikul atop Televrina-589m. The herb-scented
climb to the ridge is rewarded with 360 degree panoramic views
of the whole of the Cres-Losinj archipeligo and the forests
below, before dropping down to the historical and sleepy town of
Osor, where you will have the opportunity to take a well-earned
drink before returning by minibus to Beli.
Beli-Niska-Porozina and return
via Poljana 12km 6-hrs-circular route
Leaving
the ancient settlement of Beli we climb alongside a wooded canyon-using one of the old
Roman roads into the enchanting forests of Tramuntana. The air
on this route is laden with the scent of wild herbs as we wind
our way to the interesting deserted village of 'Niska' through
pastures and stands of giant Sweet Chestnut and Oak. The journey
offers the chance to spot some interesting flora and fauna
including some of Cres's 10 species of non-venomous snakes,
lizards, deer, butterflies, beetles and invertebrates and many
species of birds, including the enormous Eurasion Griffon
Vulture with its 2.8m wingspan. We return to Beli using a
combination of forest roads and woodland trails and in the
afternoon we include a visit to 'Eko-Centar-Caput-Insulae-Beli'
which is home to an international volunteer centre concerned
with the protection of Griffon Vultures and the island's rich
natural and cultural heritage. Here you have the opportunity to
tour the very informative exhibition of the history and nature
of Cres-Losinj, and buy souvenirs or keepsakes.
Beli-Stepici-Jama Campari-Beli
12kms and 4hrs-Circular route(Red Trail)
The
main 'Eko-trail' established by
the ECCIB organisation, this route is rightly-so entitled
'History and Art in Nature' and it winds its way arount he Oak
forests of Tramuntana passing many points of historical and
natural interest-including stone labyrinths, deserted
villages-each with their own unique story,
prehistoric settlements of Illyrian and some say Celtic origin!
Throughout the 12kms there are sculptures and poems dedicated to
the unique beauty and nature here, which offer the chance to
pause and reflect. In fact on the entrance to the trails stands
a stone 'Megalith Gate' bearing the message...."Traveller, let
the wisdom lighten your way, and let your heart through beauty
lead you to the truth". The trail also offers the opportunity to
enter the limestone cave at 'Campari', where remains of
prehistoric bears were found by pot-holers in its depths.
Beli-Kosmacev-Zanjevici-Beli-7kms
and 3.5 hrs-circular route
Claimed
by many as one of the most beautiful trails of Tramuntana-it winds its way several
kilometres via the deserted sheep-farming settlement of
Zanjevici to the largest natural pond on Tramuntana.Ponds here
occur rarely due to the nature of the Karst geology and as such
are of enormous importance to sheep-farming and all the wildlife
here. They truly are Oases in a place where most rainwater
disappears underground within hours of falling. As such they are
home to an abundance of interesting wildlife, including rare
Dragon and Damselflies, Snakes, Lizards and Butterflies.
This trail also passes 3 stone
labyrinths-built in the designs of different civilisations,
erected to offer passing travellers the opportunity to pause,
forget the outside world and become one with nature and
yourself during your journey to and from the centre.
On the return to Beli we will
meander in and out of wooded glades, limestone sinkholes and
pavements and pass through remains of the earliest settlements
on these islands.
Beli-Frantin-Beli-5kms and
3hrs-circular route
Passing by the oldest part of Beli,estimated at 3 to 4,000 years old we take the ancient stone
trail to another deserted hamlet called Frantin. Like all of the
trails here, the floral diversity is amazing and during all of
the 4 seasons the forest will provide something for the table,
be it Wild Asparagus in May/June, Mushrooms in September/October
or Olives in November. Before the climb to 'Frantin' (another
one-time Sheep-farming settlement) the trail also passes one of
the bigger ponds in Tramuntana, which is regularly cleaned of
dead flora and other debris by the Eko-Centar volunteers to
allow it to continue to support life and provide a natural
source of drinking-water. The 'Green Trail' also passes both the
smallest and largest labyrinths in Tramuntana and Deer and Wild
Pigs are commonplace throughout these interesting forests.A
pause in Frantin allows one the time to contemplate just how
difficult it was in times-gone-by to make a life here devoid of
electricity, motorised transport, running water and
communication-the things we now take for granted!
On leaving Frantin the trail follows
the macadam forest road in a gradual winding descent to Beli
which offers great views looking south from Beli to Merag and
the desrted island of 'Plavnik'.
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